Arty Farty Friday ~ 3 Photo-realist Painters with Taurean and Other Astro-similarities: Richard Estes, Robert Bechtle, Ralph Goings.

Social and political changes happening in the USA from the mid-1960s into the 1970s affected artists in different ways. One group challenged abstract art and modernism by going in an exactly opposite direction - a return to realism. It wasn't simple realism though, but sharp, highly detailed photo realism or hyper-realism. These artists looked to the ordinary for their subjects, to everyday motifs and common experiences of "the man/woman in the street"....seeking, finding and opening the viewer's eyes to beauty in the mundane.
(Left: a still life study by Ralph Goings)

It isn't surprising to me to find that three leading American photorealist painters, all still with us as far as I know, have natal Suns in Taurus, two were born on the same day of the same year!

Richard Estes, born 14 May 1932, Kewanee, Illinois.
Robert Bechtle, also born 14 May 1932, San Francisco, Ca.
Ralph Goings, born 9 May 1928, Corning, Ca.

(Richard Estes has already been featured individually in an archived post.)

I'm interested, here, to compare the three natal charts first, then offer a couple of examples the work of each. Charts set for 12 noon - times of birth unknwn.




RICHARD ESTES













ROBERT BECHTLE















RALPH GOINGS




Could this common attraction to realism be seen in their natal charts?

Sun in Earthy, feet-on-the-ground Taurus, ruled by arty Venus is a start, but not enough. Estes and Bechtle have Mars in Taurus too, and rebellious Uranus in semi-sextile to Sun. This mild streak of the rebel in them could have facilitated the turning away from abstract art and modernism, so beloved of art critics at that time.

Both would have Moon in Virgo whatever time they were born - here is the urge for meticulous perfection so apparent in their work.

In both charts there's a Yod (Finger of Fate) linking Venus in Cancer (art and beauty) to Neptune in Virgo (creativity and meticulousness) in a helpful sextile, with both linked to realistic, structured Saturn in Aquarius by quincunx aspect. I read that as an almost perfect description of what Richard Estes and Robert Bechtle produce in their artwork. Artistic, meticulous and creative skills chanelled through a structured (Saturn) and somewhat intellectual (Aquarius) medium. Neptune's involvement has a double significance too - as Neptune connects closely to photography.

The first two charts are almost identical - main difference would be in the rising sign, which we cannot know without times of birth.

Ralph Goings, though born 4 years and 5 days years earlier than the previous pair has certain similarities chart-wise.

Sun Venus and Mercury all in Venus-ruled arty but Earthy and reality-centered Taurus, with - here again - Uranus the rebel planet in semi-sextile to a personal planet - this time it's arty Venus.

Moon would have been in Earthy Capricorn whatever his time of birth - another link to realism - Capricorn is nothing if not realistic. Capricorn's ruler, Saturn is at the apex of a Yod here also, not the same Yod as in the case of Estes and Goings though. Here Saturn at the Yod's apex links to Sun and Pluto, the key is realistic and disciplined Saturn at its apex.

So....there are strong similarities in the three charts. It's time for me to say, once again:"Something is going on here, but we don't know what it is, do we, Mr. Jones?"

2 by Richard Estes





2 by Robert Bechtle





2 by Ralph Goings




Further examples of their work can be found via Google Image. Ralph Goings' own website is HERE.

Arty Farty Friday ~ Richard Estes ~ Photo-realism

Realism and especially that genre of painting known as photo-realism isn't especially beloved by the elite of the art world, or the "hip" and "cool" of any world. I enjoy it though. I admire the work and dedication which must go into these paintings, obviously not something that could be dashed off while "under the influence" of any stimulant.
(Left: 42nd Street Crosstown Bus by Richard Estes)

Richard Estes is one of the founders of the school of photo-realism, also referred to as super- or hyper-realism. His skill is breathtaking. He was born in Kewanee, Illinois, studied art in Chicago but settled in New York, a city for which he appears to have great affection, for many of his paintings are reflections of it - literally reflections too in some cases.







Estes' paintings concentrate on aspects of urban landscape, sometimes unpopulated, occasionally with a few figures involved. They show us New York, and other cities, in an atmosphere of almost surreal calm, taking the viewer out of the painting's extreme realism into something else entirely, if the viewer were to stop and think about it.

Richard Estes' paintings are based on his own photographs, though not exact copies. He takes several shots and combines them to produce something more pleasing and representative.

His technique involves shooting numerous photographs with a a tripod with a 4 x 5 camera. He then decides on the scale of the final work and does a layout drawing without the use of a grid. The basic drawing is blocked in with a diluted acrylic, its very loose, just the general outlines. From that Richard blocks in some of the lights and darks. "I find it easier to get the overall effect first, the big areas, then work down into smaller and smaller areas. In that way I'm in control of the painting all of the time. I can't finish everything individually; it has to be finished all at the same time". As the detail gets worked up Richard has been known to shift elements or add or delete them in order to get the painting to work. This stage is the underpainting stage and is followed by an overpainting stage in oil paint where everything is brought to fruition. The details get finer, the colors more accurate. The process can take many months. (HERE)

Born on 14 May 1932. Chart shown is set for 12 noon, as birth time isn't known. Moon position and ascendant will not be accurate as shown, though Moon would have been somewhere in the first half of zodiac sign Virgo.



Can his attraction to realism be seen in his natal chart? Sun in Earthy Taurus, ruled by arty Venus is a start, but not enough to indicate meticulously drawn urban landscapes with multiple reflective surfaces as a frequent signature of his work.
Moon in Virgo is one link to the meticulous and down to Earth nature apparent in his paintings.

How about this though?: Yod (Finger of Fate) linking Venus in Cancer (art and beauty) to Neptune in Virgo (creativity and meticulousness) in a helpful sextile, with both linked to realistic, structured Saturn in Aquarius by quincunx aspect ? I read that as an almost perfect description of what Richard Estes produces in his artwork. Artistic, meticulous and creative skills chanelled through a structured (Saturn) and somewhat intellectual (Aquarius) medium. Neptune's involvement has a double significance too - as Neptune connects closely to photography.

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BUS WITH REFLECTION OF THE FLATIRON BUILDING






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